First issue is the routed lines are very small and the torch won't want to burn in there. You will have to burn at an angle, right on the lines to even hope to get it going. Going with the wider lines and a rounded bit helped you out on your next attempt.

Second, After you torch, take a tire brush with semi-soft bristles and work the char into your lines. That is your best chance to get some color in there. Brush it all off, but you also work it in and polish at the same time.

Third, take a rag and wipe it down to get an even smoother look and cleaning/polish it.

Forth, in your second attempt, you over torched it. You really just want to barely blacken the surface, not catch it on fire and burn it away. Use it like a spray painter, turning it brown.
See how much I have torched this piece. Brown, not black. Map gas is good and all, but it is way hotter than propane. That could be an issue here. I use propane. Slower, but I think more control.

Fifth, you'll also notice on your first piece the knots in the wood screwed up your lines and that sap in the knots burns like crazy. Cherry pick your wood stock to have no knots in the carving surface.
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Try some Burning sticks! start your charcoal grill and on top of the coals stick in some hard wood sticks same diameter as your grooves and don't worry about rounding them off yet. When the sticks are red hot pull'em out a bi and start with one stick just rubbing it in the groove until the groove looks burned enough or until the fire goes out of the stick, then back in the grill and re heat it and take another one to use till it cools down,,, you get the idea The system has much better control and a nice consistent color can be had using a fine wire brush preferably brass or stainless. Might take a few grooves to get the hang of it but the fire sticks will do the best in the end
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On 2012-12-30 20:01, Benzart wrote:Try some Burning sticks! start your charcoal grill and on top of the coals stick in some hard wood sticks same diameter as your grooves and don't worry about rounding them off yet. When the sticks are red hot pull'em out a bi and start with one stick just rubbing it in the groove until the groove looks burned enough or until the fire goes out of the stick, then back in the grill and re heat it and take another one to use till it cools down,,, you get the idea The system has much better control and a nice consistent color can be had using a fine wire brush preferably brass or stainless. Might take a few grooves to get the hang of it but the fire sticks will do the best in the end